Category — American Idol

American Idol started last week and it is good to see the popular series can survive without Simon Cowell. In fact from the episode I watched last night it showcased the talent, and the judges personalities did not dominate as they have in previous years.

That could be because J Lo doesn’t have much of one…

Steve Tyler seems to have taken on the dippy, flamboyant role and he is fun. However parents lock up your daughters, as he does have an eye for the young ladies.

Anyway the two names that have emerged from this week’s auditions they are 15 year old Lauren Aliana and Chris Medina . Yes you read that right Lauren is  15, Idol producers have reduced the age to audition down a year. LA Times outline why they think she will be a contender here.

The producers are keen to push her as she had the lucky last pimp spot.

The other guy that got this spot this week was Chris Medina who currently is nursing his fiancee who has long term brain damage. Even though I knew the back story to the clip, I was still couldn’t hold back the tears. This guy can also sing.

See his audition below:

The Simon Cowell less American Idol will again be fast tracked from the US this year. It premieres on Thurs 20 January at 7.30pm on Fox 8. It is then followed up on Friday as well at 7.30pm.

American Idol has been totally changed with Simon Cowell going. The only original judge left is Randy Jackson. the two new judges are Steve Tyler from Aerosmith, and J-Lo.

However, Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, co-founder of Beats Audio and one of the world’s most successful and prolific music producers, will join American Idol as an in-house mentor.

Rumour has it that there will be more footage from the house to try and personalise the show a bit more.

I have to confess the new cast members are not filling me with enthusiasm. American Idol ratings dropped last year, but having said that it is still one of the highest rating shows on US TV.

Now rating period has ended for the free-to-air channels and all their decent shows have ceased, you must be wondering what you are going to be watching over the Summer season.

Don’t panic there are some good shows starting, but the bad news is most are on Pay TV.

This week Foxtel started to new reality shows. Dating in the Dark on Fox 8 (see review on it here) and Freshwater Blue on MTV.

Other shows to look out for over summer are:

• The always entertaining Come Dine With Me Australia (Season 3);
• American Idol with the new judging panel of Steve Tyler and J-Lo;
• Live To Dance with Andrew Gunsberg hosting will be fast tracked from the US;
• Also there is always a plethora of good stuff on Arena, with Top Chef finishing off, however Bethenny Is Getting Married, The Rachel Zoe Project, and Flipping Out are all entertaining.

If anyone sees a good reality show in the TV guide tell me about it so I can alert other reality TV fans.

American Idol was always going to do  it tough with Simon Cowell leaving, but I have to confess I am completely underwhelmed about the replacements. In the worst kept secret in the entertainment industry it was announced recently that J-Lo, Steve Tyler and Randy Jackson would be the judges for the next season of the high rating show.

I have never found J-Lo to have much personality so I am not expecting much out of her, and really a nearly has been rocker – sorry American Idol I think you have lost a viewer.

Entertainment Weekly’s Idol guru Michael Slezak also has the same concerns I have.

This year’s American Idol runner up Crystal Bowersox (Lee DeWyze ended up winning it), has broken up with her boyfriend Big Tony.

According to the New York Post, the singer broke up with him last Tuesday morning right before her finale performance.

The article said:

“Big Tony went home,” Bowersox told Ryan Seacrest during his morning radio show. “it was a mutual thing. We’re both logical adults.”

“He’s a small-town guy – that’s fine. I’m a small-town girl, but I want this more than anything.

“I want this career, this lifestyle,” she said. “and I didn’t think he was up for it.

“And he didn’t think he was up for it.”

She went on to say that she was “a little sad he did it on performance day,” but that she used the emotion during her performance of Patty Griffin’s “Up To The Mountain.”

Still Bowersox said that she’s “the happiest girl in the world right now.”

Also according to MSJ Big Blog Crystal is yet to sign a record contract, but there are company’s interested.

On American Idol the judges can use a save to keep an eliminated contestant in the competition. They can use it once, prior to the the top Five, and obviously have to agree.

Last night on Idol the judges used it, but did they use it wisely, I think not.

Big Mike Lynche was up for elimination due to a pretty poor  rendition of Eleanor Rigby. However it was his lucky day and he was told that he would be back next week.

With four more weeks to the top five it was a bit risk for the judges to save this guy who has an OK voice, but does not have the potential to win the competition. It also now means that Crystal Bowesox or Siobhan could be at risk of being eliminated in the next couple of weeks and that would be a travesty.

Seriously how good would the Mardi Gras party have been last night, George Michael and Adam Lambert. Adam the runner up from last year’s American Idol closed the party, and above his his performance. Please note it is not the greatest quality but it shows he was getting into the Mardi Gras spirit, with his costume and dance moves.

Also here is Adam Lambert at his signing at Hum records on Oxford St. Just for the record I was not there.

For those who are still in a catatonic state from last night’s men’s top ten semi-final the good news Crystal Bowersox will be performing tonight on the show.  So it probably is worth while tuning in.

You know it was a bad night for the boys when Tim Urban was probably in the top three performances. Unfortunately this is not Australian Idol where the top 12 get through regardless of gender, here it is a strict six and six ratio.

I decided not to waste anymore of my time to do a recap but here is one from EW titled Boys of Slumber that sums it up nicely.

It is still not revealed what her illness is/was, but below Ryan Seacrest chats to the Executive Producer of American Idol about why they swapped the semis on his morning radio show.

Calling on all American Idol savants – apparently the producers of this week show have swapped the shows and the boys top 10 will be singing tonight as one of the girls is ill.

EW reports that Crystal Bowersox is ill with complications with her diabetes and have postponed the girls top ten show to tomorrow night to give her an extra day to recover.

This has never happened before, but then I am not sure if there has been a sick girl or guy at this stage of the competition. Some people on forums are saying Kristy-Lee Cook had to sing, when she had been sick, but I think this was after she had made top 12.

Either way it is a controversial move by the show, and I suspect there is fear and loathing in the American Idol house as it gives the boys one less day to rehearse.

Personally I think they are playing favourites, but then I don’t care as I really like her and think she adds something different to the show. But I suspect if the producers had been ambivalent about one the contestants it would have been the show must go on mantra.

However if the show did somehow contribute to her hospitalisation eg she was not able to get access to regular food, they should definitely moved it.

Your thoughts?

Apparently Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson have been talking that a girl will win this year’s American Idol, and on tonight’s boy’s night I think they might be right. There were a few good performances, but a lot that were completely forgettable.

A few thoughts on the show:

• Todrik’s version of Kelly Clarkson’s version of Since You’ve Been Gone  was a bit strange, but it was kind of likeable. Randy cracked me up and he had a point when he said the song was a hit and you obliterated it and it was unrecognisable. The reason it was a hit was because people liked it.
• How Aaron Kelly got through to the top 24 after completely blowing is final top 100 performance is beyond me, and tonight’s country ballad song did nothing to make me change my mind – clearly I was alone in my opinion as the judges gushed, even Simon Cowell was positive.
• Jermaine Sellers voice was a bit cracky and pitchy, but his voice has some interesting tones, I would like to hear him sing again before I press the delete button on him.
• Tim Urban who got a last minute call up for the top 24, has a cute pop look, his vocals were weak, and he over annunciated his words. I might be twisting the knife, but Simon plunged it in.
• Joe Munoz did nothing for me in his preview interviews, but on stage he turns into a little cutie and a lot of appeal. Lucky for him there is a high hispanic population in the US so should be safe. Simon was not feeling the love for him.
• Tyler Grady was the first contestant who screamed star. However Simon thinks he is a rock star cliche, and the rest of the judges agreed. Ellen thought he lacked charisma. Maybe I am a sucker for the Jim Morrison/Michael Hutchene.
• Lee Dewze was smart and picked the popular song from Snow Patrol, I liked it. But he got a 50/50 split from the judges.
• John Park song was extremely dull, I will be surprised if he is NOT eliminated.
• Michael Lynche Maroon 5 was a good song choice but I thought the guitar playing was superfluous.
• Alex Lambert grew on me once I got over his dreadful mullet, I am not sure if he will make top 12 but he has an unusual voice.
• Casey James who I have been a bit ho hum about, changed my mind a bit with his performance, not sure why Kara is so hot to trot about him.
• Andrew Garcia’s performance was entertaining, and I think he got hit with the “we have high expectations of you” stick by the judges.